JUVENTUS are hoping to exploit Rafael Benitez’s ongoing frustration at being forced to put business ahead of football at Liverpool by making a summer move for the Spaniard.

The Anfield manager continues to work under tight financial constraints as American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett look to ease the club’s level of debt.

Benitez has reluctantly accepted he must once again be creative with his transfer dealings this month, having been told he must generate the funds to pay for any new arrivals.

That Liverpool are lining up Standard Liege striker Milan Jovanovic on a free transfer at the end of the season suggests such austerity is likely to extend into the summer.

Benitez is aware that keeping a tight financial ship makes the Anfield outfit more attractive to the type of potential investors who may bankroll any major squad strengthening in the future.

But the Spaniard’s comments that “clubs are now run like companies” will prove encouraging for Juventus, with reports from Italy suggesting the Serie A giants are preparing an attempt to lure the Liverpool manager to Turin.

The news co-owner Hicks has agreed to sell baseball team Texas Rangers for £310m had prompted some Liverpool supporters to speculate whether any of the money could find its way to Anfield and Benitez’s transfer budget.

But the Spaniard, who takes his side to Wolverhampton Wanderers this evening, said: “I do not think so. They are another company.

“The majority of clubs are now run like companies. You have to think about football and business, both things together.

“This year we have done a fantastic job trying to balance the books and to do the right job for the company. In football, we had to take some risks and we have to improve now on the pitch.

“We are trying to do our best for the club and sometimes it’s good for the business and sometimes it’s also good on the pitch. If people can see the club is healthy, it’ll be easier to bring in investors.”

Benitez added: “Sometimes you have to do the best for your club for the future, and we are doing this.

“This year we have had to sell if we want to buy and keep things level. That’s part of the risk, and sometimes it has gone well and sometimes less well.”

Juventus are keeping a close eye on Benitez’s situation given coach Ciro Ferrara’s future is increasingly in doubt.

It is understood Ferrara will be sacked on Thursday after the Coppa Italia game against Inter, with a caretaker manager – believed to be Guus Hiddink – put in place for the remainder of the campaign.

And while Benitez’s agent, Manuel Garcia Quillon, believes his client remains committed to Liverpool, he fell short of completing ruling out a future switch to Turin.

“Benitez to Juventus? In football you never know,” said Quillon. “I don’t know what will happen in four to five months.”